Section 85: To appear on appointed date for appearance

1) Where a date is appointed by the court for appearance for any proceeding, the accused or defendant shall appear in the court on that appointed date for appearance.

Provided that if any party to a case makes a petition showing the reason for being unable to appear in the court on the appointed date for appearance, and the court holds such reason to be reasonable, the court may order the extension of the expired appointed date for appearance for a maximum period of fifteen days, at one time or several times not exceeding two times, excluding the time required for journey.

2) Where a person required to appear in the court on the appointed date for appearance pursuant to sub-section (1) has been held in detention or imprisoned in any manner whatsoever, the person shall send information of that matter to the concerned court through the prison in which he or she is so held in detention or imprisoned.

3) If information is given pursuant to sub-section (2), such person shall not be deemed to have expired the appointed date for appearance during the period of such detention or imprisonment.

4) If any person who is held in detention or imprisoned gives information thereof to the court pursuant to sub-section (2), the court may order the concerned prison to produce that person at the time of trial.